Monday, March 28, 2016

I love the Yugas Gold and I mix 1/2 cup powdered tea with 1tsp of baking soda. I store it in a little jar I keep when I'm on the run...

I will pack about a tsp of the mix as if it's dip or chew and the subtle alert clarity keeps me engaged and focused when I need it most!!!

I also use the same mix in homemade tea bags for sinus pressure, headaches, lethargy, or an upset tummy! This tea is a miracle and I'm so thankful to have found your company!!

Thankful!

T. M. Clayton, Missouri

Coca Alone, many times, needs an extra kick, an alkaline base to help alkaloids come out of the plant, baking soda, llujta and lejia are great agents that help the process. Please keep the tea away from the sun light as it can turn brown, do not refrigerate powdered tea or tea bags, they can turn grey, avoid humidity to help reduce chance of bacteria or mold forming, well stored, the tea has a time shelf of 2 - 3 years.

Friday, March 25, 2016

I drink it with hot water...2 to 4 grams in a cup...sometimes 6 grams but not often...that is for in case I won't be able to drink more tea for a while.

So, besides the great medicinal benefits I get for my guts...because I had major problems that I 'm still getting over...major gluten intolerance, and major candida, and my gut flora was completely destroyed from medication (narcotics) and antibiotics...and the tea really helps my gut and my energy and mood.

Even after I am well, I will still want the tea, because of the same reasons...great for motivation and mood and energy and the guts!

Because of my current condition...that is why I get so upset when I run out. And my gut brain connection is screwed up sometimes because of this illness. I am getting well though. I use no medication except mmj, and guarana, and coca tea!

- Tiger is a loyal and old customer, for years, we have provided him with A or AA grade powdered tea, he drinks Oruro Especial right now but before he was a Caranavi drinker for years. Tiger has a serious gluten intolerance and intestinal issues that only coca has been effective to control, he is one of the most sensitive customers to any shortage of products and we tried to complete his order as fast as possible every week as we know that he will not be able to do much without coca. He gets very mad when he does not get his order right away and we understand his bad mood as it is a result of his pain.

My name is J. H, and I've been enjoying your coca products in New Hampshire, USA for several years now. Coca helps my travels by mountain bicycle seem less taxing in the steep hills of New England.

So glad to see you've added kratom to your product line. Another wonderful organic herb that can't really be grown (certainly not for profit) in the natural climate of North America. I've been using a particular blend for pain management for the last 5 years:

4 parts kratom (powdered leaf)

2 parts coca (powdered leaf tea) and

one to one and one-half parts powdered ginger root (spice) or your lemon/ginger powdered tea blend.

This adds the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger to the analgesic properties of kratom and the oxygenating properties of coca. The ginger/lemon also greatly reduces the nausea sometimes associated with kratom consumption and doesn't tear up your stomach like over the counter NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.

It can be used as a tea or put up in gel caps, which tend to weight about .6 grams per 000 size capsule. I've completely replaced my oxycodone and naproxen sodium prescriptions with this blend, at a similar cost to my wallet but much lower cost to my liver and kidneys (and sanity). My average dose of kratom is 4 grams, plus 2 grams of coca and one of the ginger or ginger/lemon tea when using the pain formula blend. I repeat that dose every 5-6 hours or as needed for pain management. Evenings, or other times I want relaxation, I use a red kratom blend by itself or with ginger, but without the stimulating effects of the coca.

I'd put the blend up in capsules and sell it as an organic pain Rx formula, but the darn DEA or FDA would simply ban it immediately to protect their big corporate contributors' little opium-like pills that make them so much money, and keep Americans hooked on opiate painkillers.

I don't know why the American government hates green plants, except Nixon-era drug "warriors" always want another green plant to vilify for personal profit, but I'm glad that we've been able to keep their greedy hands off our coca and kratom, as well as kava. We Americans have the Botanical Legal Defense dot org and American Kratom Association constantly battling local politicians who want to score some easy political points by outlawing anything that competes with big chemical Rx companies in the name of the great god of clean and sober (two things most Americans aren't). We've been successful at preventing anything more than an 18+ restriction for kratom in most US states, so far.

Thanks again for bringing your wonderful products to the USA. Feel free to reprint this endorsement if you like, in whole or part, and good health to us!--J.H,
www.NovoAndinaStore.com customer since 2014

Canterbury, New Hampshire

- Thanks J.H for such wonderful post, it surely helps those people looking for alternatives to pain medication, J.H. uses Oruro Especial Powder and Organic Ginger from NovoAndina Store

After a few years without publishing because we started using the Facebook platform, it is about time to go back and share through this blog the reviews and recipes customers have been sending us for some time now.

We have a wonderful collection of recipes, reviews and experiences we would like to share with all customers, coca lovers and those new to the products we offer who are looking for a better and healthier alternative for energy, diet, focus, pain, diabetes and so many other problems coca is so good for.
I hope you enjoy this new journey with us and if you have a recipe, review or experience to share, please send it to andinastore@gmail.com. We will send you a free sampler and a discount coupon.

Many people misunderstand the cultural practice of using coca leaves for various purposes because they contain the cocaine alkaloid is made from. Despite popular belief, coca leaves are not addictive and contain only trace amounts of cocaine. Coca is a plant with countless benefits for health and rich in tradition, but has also served as a basis for discrimination against indigenous Andean peoples who use it legitimately

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

While searching the internet, we found an interesting statement at this blog:

Teas vs Infusions (and other related semantics)

So I’ve been scanning here for a couple of days now, and it seems like folks are not making distinctions between tea, and non-tea infusions. For instance peppermint tea. It could mean a peppermint infusion, it could mean a black tea with peppermint added to the brew, it could mean a black tea with peppermint oil added to the leaves (a la Earl Grey) it could even mean black tea with peppermint simple syrup added. Or green, white, yellow, and any other variant of tea.

But this site is called steepster, not teaster. Should we be able to mark an infusion that we rate as “true tea”, “infusion”, “spiced”, “scented”, or whatever. What are people’s feelings about this?

The same thing goes for what people call “chai”, which is in some circumstances a style of preparing tea, and in other circumstances a range of flavors added to tea, and in yet others the very word for tea itself.

I know this may be splitting hairs for some folks, but besides my thinly veiled opinion, I really am interested in how other people view this very semantic issue.

Other good link in the same subject is http://voices.yahoo.com/herbal-teas-infusions-decoctions-tinctures-6722336.html

SO, going back to coca, which is our business for almost 10 years now, is there any real coca product in the market such a

"coca infusion in a commercial tea bag" ...

The answer is NO! please check your label and read the ingredients, many times, brands only use the name "COCA" as a marketing strategy to add value to a brand. However, the ingredients list generally is plagued with cheaper and easier to obtain ingredients such "green tea" and after years trying several brands of commercial green tea, Lipton at Walmart for under $4 for 40ct box is a great option and there is no need to spend more than that!

" Energizing teas or infusion inspired on the Andean Mate de Coca" clearly do not count as coca tea and do not have a pinch of coca in it.

Coca is only one and only comes legal from only two countries in the world: Bolivia and Peru, anything else claiming to be a " Coca Infusion Tea " is just a cheap fake!

Sunday, August 04, 2013

HYPOGLYCEMIA and COCA TEA

Commercial distribution prohibited. This monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.Background
The coca plant ( Erythroxylum coca ), or "coca," is native to the Andean region in western South America.

Coca leaves have been used widely by native South American tribes for thousands of years. It has been suggested that the use of the coca plant was originally reserved for priests and royalty in ancient South America and was used for religious purposes.
Traditionally, coca plant products (for example, coca leaves, coca leaf tea) have been used for reducing pain, decreasing hunger, and for their stimulant effects. Cocaine, an alkaloid that is processed from the coca plant, is a highly addictive stimulant. In 1999, an estimated 30% of drug-related visits to emergency departments were due to cocaine toxicity.

Cocaine production and trade is illegal in most countries. Unprocessed coca leaf, however, may be legal in some South American countries because the use of coca leaves has traditionally been considered to be a part of local cultural identity, particularly for specific indigenous groups. To prevent cocaine production, coca plant cultivation is often restricted in these countries.

Coca leaves have been used for treating cocaine dependence. Coca leaves have also been used for studies of exercise tolerance and hypoglycemia. Use of illicit cocaine has had negative effects on antisocial behavior and general health. Further study is needed.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Charity Water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of your donation will support programming. Any amount will help, in fact, $20 will provide fresh water for one person for 20 years - that's a cost of only $1 per year! Reyes Avila, LLC will give a $10 dollar one time coupon rebate that can be used for any purchase in 2009 at our webstores for a donation $10 or higher to Charity Water between July 27th and August 2nd , just email us your Paypal transaction number and email address to verify the donation and we will email you back your rebate.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Sorry, all March coupons are already down! enjoy our April discounts. All coupons "Only" valid when you use Google Checkout .Our Amazon Store will reopen this week with new products.Happy EasterBolivia Stores

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Leaves of Wrath Led

US to Blackmail WHOFinal Episode in the Tug-of-War Between the US, the UN and Bolivia’s Coca Leaf?by Nadia Hausfather / March 11th, 2009

Bolivian President Evo Morales is on his way to Vienna, but he can’t bring coca leaves to chew for comfort on the plane — not even a bit of coca shampoo to shower with at the hotel. He might have his last chance to change that, once he sets foot at the 52nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Austria’s capital city this March 11th. The CND is the policy-making body at the United Nations that deals with illicit drugs — and the medicinal coca leaf, native to Bolivia, is considered to be one of them.According to the UN website, ministers and top anti-drug officials from the CND Member States will be meeting to discuss issues ranging from preventing drug abuse to adopting a plan of action to “counter the world drug problem.” But for former coca farmer Morales and other coca leaf activists, the problem lies with the UN’s decisions — particularly the one that put the coca leaf on the UN’s list of the most strongly controlled illicit substances.For years, activists have been trying to to remove coca from the top UN list of illegal substances and change the international perception of coca as being synonymous with cocaine. President Morales himself sent an official letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon exactly one year ago, announcing he would try to take the coca leaf off the UN’s list.But the list of controlled substances can only be changed by the 53 governments of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, “taking into account the recommendation made by the World Health Organization, based on a scientific review of a substance,” says Beate Hammond, Drug Control Officer of the Secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board.Hammond claims that in 1993, the WHO Expert Committee confirmed that the coca leaf belongs in the top list because “cocaine is readily extractable from the leaf.” She adds, “We are not aware of any facts that have come to light to justify a reversal of the scheduling status of coca leaf.”But some are saying the reason those facts have not come to light has little to do with facts, and a lot to do with faulty studies — and a bit of blackmailing.Yanking the Problem by the UN’s RootsThe roots of this thorny issue go back to 1961, when governments signed the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to establish a single apparatus for international drug control. Another goal of the 1961 Convention was to “phase out the traditional consumption of drugs” like coca throughout the next 25 years, says a source from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).“Everyone who signed and ratified it is bound by it,” affirms the UNODC source. According to Article 3 of that convention, controlled substances are not only those substances that can be abused, but also the substances that can be converted into a drug, explains Hammond.While Hammond says the original 1961 Convention included the coca leaf on the list based on “the views on this matter expressed by the World Health Organization,” Sdenka Silva, co-founder of the Coca Museum in La Paz, says the original WHO study that is the basis was merely “based on observations.”The most recent WHO study was legitimate, but it was ignored, says Dr. Jorge Hurtado, director of the Bolivian branch of the International Coca Research Institute. He says that in the 90s, studies by the WHO denied the addictive nature of the leaf and reaffirmed the coca leaf’s healthy attributes, including the leaf’s ability to allow the absorption of oxygen into the brain.But this time the UN didn’t care about what the WHO had to say, because the US didn’t like it. Minutes from the 48th World Health Assembly in May 1995 cite the US government’s disapproval of the WHO study’s most recent findings about the coca leaf. The report cites US government representative Mr. Boyer warning that “if WHO activities relating to drugs failed to reinforce proven drug control approaches, funds for the relevant programs should be curtailed.” He then “asked for an assurance that WHO would dissociate itself from the conclusions of the study.”Mario Argandoña, a Bolivian psychiatrist from the WHO Programme on Substance Abuse, participated in the study and wrote a report describing the study’s positive findings about the coca leaf. He says a few days after the 48th World Health Assembly meeting, the US embassy representative for the WHO, Dr. Ken Bernard, visited him in his Geneva office “to tell me that his government was investigating to see whether the WHO study had received financial support from Bolivian drug traffickers.” Dr. Bernard added that US scientists had proof that the traditional use of the coca leaf had led to brain atrophy in 14,000 Indigenous Andeans. “My answer was that the funding for the study came from Italy and the USA,” recalls Argandoña. “Regarding the scientific study about brain atrophy, I told him that the ethical thing to do would be to publish such a study.” Their meeting ended there.Even Better Than the Real ThingDr. Jorge Hurtado tries to dispel ideas that coca is bad for the brain and any other part of the body. He affirms that as early as the 70s, research from Harvard University showed that the Bolivian coca leaf contains more vitamin A than any fruit and has more calcium than milk.But most Bolivians know this just from experience. Bolivian miners survive hunger and sleep deprivation for long hours in the depth of the mines by chewing on coca leaves.Coca is not only sacred for miners — but for Bolivians of all ages and walks of life. From the age of 11, Canedo amassed coca leaves into a protruding ball in one cheek to suck their juices out — an activity called ‘acullicar.’ Both his parents’ families are ‘acullicadoras.’ When Canedo visits his piece of land in the tropical Yungas region, he cultivates coca along with his family and neighbors. Back in La Paz, he often buys a bag of coca leaves at the market to share with his family. He chews on coca leaves at local bars and pubs and especially when he’s up late studying for exams or volunteering at the annual Coca and Sovereignty Fair, where everything from coca creams to coca pancakes is sold.“Coca is part of us, it’s part of our identity, of our ideas, of our history,” says Jeannette Rojas, director of Comunidad Sagrada Coca, a local women’s music collective that seeks to honour Bolivia’s Indigenous heritage. “That’s why we call ourselves Sacred Coca Community,” she says.“Coca is a symbol that has resisted and persisted for centuries. It’s the only thing that we’ve managed to preserve from European and Spanish destruction.”Coca is present “in all the celebrations you can imagine: baptisms, marriages, village festivals, fertility, thanksgiving rituals” and important meetings, adds Silva.Bolivians aren’t the only ones who know this. “Bolivia has produced coca leaf for traditional uses for centuries,” affirms a March 2007 International Narcotic Strategy Report released by US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.“Bolivians actually chew on the coca leaf for medicinal purposes,” acknowledges US Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson Michael Sanders. He recalls arriving at the El Alto airport, at more than 12,000 feet above the ground. “Because of altitude, a lot of people, including us, would get altitude sickness. They found one of the things that would curb the nausea and the altitude sickness was coca tea,” he says. “It wouldn’t get you high or anything like that, it would just assist with the symptoms of altitude sickness.”Dr. Hurtado adds that the leaf contains two molecules that prevent addiction. And not only can the leaf prevent addiction, it can cure it, he says. Since 1984, he says he has been treating cocaine addiction with the coca leaf.Cutting Supply Isn’t EnoughWhether curative or nutritional, what’s crystal clear is that coca leaves are not synonymous with cocaine. “Coca does not contain cocaine in its natural state,” explains Dr. Hurtado. Cocaine can only be derived from it through a specific chemical extraction process, he says, and a lengthy process is needed to transform the green leaves into the white powder.Dionisio Nuñez, a Bolivian deputy and co-founder of the Coca and Sovereignty campaign thinks the cocaine problem in Bolivia is the direct consequence of cocaine consumption in the US and its inability to eradicate that problem domestically.Even the DEA spokesperson agrees. “Do you like chocolate?” Sanders asked. “What if you said I’m not going to eat chocolate anymore? If everyone in the country said okay, I’m not going to eat chocolate, then there would be no such thing as Swiss chocolate because nobody would be buying it,” said Sanders.“It’s the same thing with illegal drugs. Until the demand is gone, you’re always going to have that supply.”Dr. Hurtado also blames the US for protecting the monopoly of multinational companies to access coca, referring to a special deal that the soft drink company had with the DEA to export coca. Article 27 of the 1961 UN convention clearly provides a loophole for Coca Cola to take advantage of, says Dr. Hurtado, adding that the UN protects the Coca Cola monopoly because “the UN is controlled by the US.”Yet Hammond laughs about the idea of Coca Cola being allowed preferential treatment by the UN. “The 1961 Convention may permit the use and export of coca leaves for the preparation of a flavouring agent, which does not contain any (cocaine) alkaloids,” explained Hammond. “It is only under these limited conditions that these leaves may be exported,” but the alkaloids do not have to be removed prior to export.Meanwhile, the Bolivian government struggles to find legal markets to export the coca leaf — to ensure less coca goes to drug trafficking and more goes to eating, soothing, washing and curing. If travelers like Morales want to bring coca teas, creams or candies as souvenirs to promote their local economy and heritage when they go on trips abroad, the coca leaf will need to be taken off the UN’s list by the CND.Bolivian President Evo Morales will make his speech during the opening session of the CND March 11th. It starts at 10am at the Vienna International Centre and is open to the media.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Coca plantA U.S. Navy air traffic controller has been convicted of wrongful use of cocaine and may be thrown out of the military soon – and he claims it's all because he drank a cup of tea.In July 2008, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Javier Trevino, an air traffic controller stationed at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., drank a tea his friends said they bought in Mexico. They said it would help relieve stress the sailor was under after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.Trevino told WND his friends in San Antonio, Texas, gave him 20 to 30 tea bags in a plastic bag, and he took them back to Florida. He said he never suspected anything unusual about the tea. "It was wrapped like all the tea bags I have ever bought, brewed like normal tea, tasted like tea, quenched my thirst like all the other teas had done before," he said. "I didn't feel any effects out of the normal."Trevino, a father of three boys, then shared the tea with his 11-year-old son, Nicholas. He offered some to his neighbor before she drove her children home.He even drank the tea with his best friend, co-worker Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Lee.To his shock, Trevino tested positive for illegal use of cocaine.He contacted Lee, who didn't believe the news – until authorities arrested him.Ground coca leaves "I couldn't believe it," Lee told WND. "I kept saying, 'It's not possible.' Then I called a lawyer. We figured it had to be the tea because it was the only thing outside of my normal regimen that I had put in my body. It's the only thing that was different in my diet."Subject to the military's zero tolerance drug policy, both men were court-martialed and faced separate trials by military jury. Even with identical cases, Trevino was found guilty and Lee was not. Lee said he still suffers from nightmares after his six-month legal battle."I wanted to stay in the Navy and become an officer, and I thought about it after my trial," he said. "But I got to see the ugly side of the military, and I don't know if I want to be a part of it anymore."Trevino now has a federal conviction for cocaine use and may lose his Navy career and any chance at being hired for a position as an air traffic controller in the civilian sector."I will never control another aircraft again," Trevino said. "I will be branded with a felony drug conviction for the rest of my life. It will be hard to support my wife and children. I will always have to compete with my peers in the civilian job market at a disadvantage. I will always have to explain myself at every job interview." He said, "Now I'm in the fight of my life."The Navy air traffic controllers claim to have ingested Windsor Mate de CocaWithout seeing the original packaging, the men say they never knew that what they drank was Windsor Mate de Coca or "tea of cocaine." The beverage is made from leaves of the cocaine plant. It is legal in the U.S. if sold in de-cocainized form, as listed on Amazon.com and from Reyes Avila, LLC, a trade company headquartered in North Carolina. A representative of Reyes Avila identifying herself as Miss Lylee** told WND the company received calls from JAG lawyers about the cases, and that Trevino's friends could not say where they bought the tea. "He said in Mexico, and I can guarantee you that the tea is not sold in any store in Mexico," she said. "We personally investigated that."Lylee said U.S. drug tests do not test for cocaine. "They test for benzoyne only, and one of the 14 alkaloids in coca tea is benzoyne," Lylee said. "That's why the 'false positive.'"Cocaine's major metabolite benzoylecgonine, or BZE, can be detected in urine drug testing. The presence of BZE does not always indicate the subject has used cocaine. Some people may test positive if they have been given certain topical anesthetics by physicians or if they ingest some coca leaf teas. Although imported tea is supposed to be de-cocainized, some of it still contains small amounts of cocaine.Due to a lack of evidence proving Trevino knowingly ingested the tea with intentions to get high, a judge in Trevino's case urged his commander to overturn the ruling."The innocent ingestion evidence that was put forward by the defense was extremely credible, quite believable and in and of itself worth of a not guilty finding," the judge said. He stated on the record that he had "sincere doubts" about whether the government proved essential elements of its case.Trevino filed a clemency request, urging his commander to overturn the ruling. The document states that Trevino boiled water to prepare the tea."This is important because … boiling water will cause cocaine to break down more rapidly into its metabolite BZE," it said. "BZE is a completely inert substance and has no effect on the body."Numerous supervisors and character witnesses, including Trevino's division officer and leading chief, testified on his behalf. They called him an "excellent sailor with outstanding military character." JAG attorney, Deborah Loomis, noted that Trevino and Lee had identical cases. "If Petty Officer Lee is acquitted while Petty Officer Trevino is saddled with a federal drug conviction for precisely the same conduct, this will be a miscarriage of justice," she wrote. Nonetheless, his commanding officer, Capt. Aaron Bowman, has stood by the jury's decision.When WND contacted Bowman for comment, public affairs spokesman Bill Austin responded on his behalf. "It would not be appropriate for Captain Bowman to comment at this time," he said. "This case is still ongoing."Lee said he trusts Bowman and believes he will do the right thing since Lee was found not guilty. "I have faith in the captain," he said. "I think he's going to overturn it. I just have faith and pray that he does."In his request for clemency, Trevino said he didn't knowingly ingest any form of drug and that he deeply regrets drinking the tea without knowing whether it contained cocaine."Before joining the Navy, I spent a year doing missionary work in the inner city neighborhoods of San Antonio," he wrote. "There I worked with drug addicts daily and preached the Gospel to them in an effort to save them from themselves. I saw first-hand how drugs can devastate people's lives, and I would never knowingly have consumed a drug."Now Trevino said he wants to warn other Americans about how one simple beverage can destroy a career. "It's a hard price for a cup of tea," he said.Concerned individuals may e-mail Capt. Aaron Bowman.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Monday, December 29, 2008

New for 2009

NovoAndina*

Organic Coca Tea

Coca Leaves are important part of "The Novoandina cuisine" which arises like a proposal that declares the revolution of the table for the astonishment of palates. This is a culinary style that conciliates the modern technologies of elaboration and presentation of the high cuisine with the raw material. We are pleased to offer to our customers our new, unique and exquisite Coca Leaf Tea Collection for your enjoyment. Our passion is to bring the elegance of the past, the tradition of the Andes to your present day Coca Tea experience with the latest food technology available in the world. Whether you are new to Coca Tea or a well traveled connoisseur, you will find everything you need to enjoy the perfect coca tea experience; all NovoAndina Coca Teas are produced, packed, supervised and distributed by Reyes Avila, LLC a proud American Company.

Yungas Gold Label: New, natural, sophisticated and eco-friendly coca tea. Specifically, we have obtained the finest selection of organic coca leaves ( three different varieties of coca leaf ) which are free of pesticides and chemicals and arranged for them to be tested in US laboratories. Thus we have pioneered a top-notch process encompassing all steps in the processing of raw coca leaf to the final tea bag. The coca leaves go through a slow dehydration process similar to that of slow roasting coffee beans to get a humidity free product to prevent bacteria or fungus from developing and then we crush them into large flakes instead of the powdery-like content used for most brands. Our filter paper is bleach free and recognizable by its beige-like color instead of the traditional bright white. We opted for the golden Air Tight bag (Double Saran Coated Polyester) to guarantee the absolute freshness of the product and discarded all paper wraps that can interfere with the coca tea flavor or over dry the delicate tea bags. Our Air Tight bags do not “breathe”. The technology used is similar to that used to pack electronic components. They have a zip lock system and can be recycled or reused. Presentations: Coca Tea Bags Air-Tight Resealable double Saran Coated Pouches 25ct , 50ct, 100ct. Coca Tea Candy 12ct , 18ct and 50ct. Also Available as Powdered Coca Tea / Coca Flour in 5 0z, 10 oz, 6.5 Sealed Tin Can and 1 pound Air - Tight Bags

Oruro Highland Coca: Uncured coca tea, fast-dried to preserve natural benefits. Contains only young coca tea leaves, bright color and unique smooth - fresh aroma. This variety is produced with coca leaves that are picked and harvested before the leaves are fully mature. The flavour is described as light, and sweet. Bleach free tea bags, no paper-tags to preserve the integrity of this sophisticated coca tea. Presentations: Coca Tea Bags Air-Tight Resealable double Saran Coated Pouches 20ct , 50ct, 100ct. Not available as Powdered Coca Tea because this variety is scarcer than our other coca teas.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Last Minute

Christmas Shopping Coupon

$0.01 off Coupon code....... but what can ONE CENT OFF do?? It automatically upgrades your package from Standard or Expedited to Express Mail

Save ONE CENT and get your package upgraded to EXPRESS MAIL on each participating item when you spend $70.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Mysterious Bolivia Stores. Enter code EXPRESS at Google Checkout, USA "ONLY"

Second Day and Overnight are available as checkout options at http://www.boliviastores.com/ and Bolivia Stores At Amazon.com , same cut off times apply but remember that Amazon does not send the orders to us immediately they take some extra time to complete security checking , email us with to Lye@reyes-avila.com or mysteriousbolivia@gmail.com with your order ID number and we’ll try to expedite it. In the Christmas spirit, we have lowered to the minimum Overnight and Second Day delivery charge at our Amazon store in order to make it affordable to our customers; prices will go up again in 2009

Thursday, December 11, 2008

“Coca Si, Cocaina No”
The struggle to legitmize

the coca leaf

by Daniel Aldana CohenPublished in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue.

Coroico, la paz — To reach Bolivia’s traditional coca-growing area, the beautiful Yungas valleys, I take a road that literally pierces the clouds, descending 2,000 metres in under six hours. From charcoal grey stone sprouting tufts of grass, the mountainsides grow greener and lusher, moss spreading over the rocks before giving way to wildflowers and leafy trees. When I arrive in one of the coca fields that checker the valleys surrounding the regional capital of Coroico, I meet Aurora, a sixty-five-year-old cocalera (coca grower). She harvests as we speak, her arms darting, her fingers grabbing pairs and triplets of leaves and severing them above the buds with her fingernails. “When I get the bud, too,” she explains, “the branch dries and there’s no more coca. “Coca is my daily bread,” she continues. “I cannot survive without it. The earth here can’t produce coffee, it can’t produce rice; it only makes coca.”Bolivians can only chew so many leaves and drink so much coca tea, however. “When we have too much coca,” one grower confided to me, “we sell the excess on the black market, and we don’t know where it goes.” He does know. Usually, it leaves the country to be processed in sophisticated labs into cocaine.Since 2006, though, Bolivia’s government, led by former cocalero Evo Morales, has been pursuing a “coca sí, cocaína no” policy aimed at ending two decades of US-funded eradication campaigns, which have militarized swaths of the country and criminalized a traditional way of life. One of the plan’s main goals is to industrialize the coca leaf on a large scale, diverting coca into new markets at home and abroad.Heidi Quisbert should be at the policy’s core. She’s one of a number of traditional medicine practitioners and cooks developing a range of coca products — from syrups and pomades to chocolates and energy bars to shampoos and toothpastes — sold in local markets. Rotund and friendly, she guides me through her cluttered kitchen in a modest La Paz neighbourhood. “See that new oven?” she asks. “I won it last year in Cochabamba at the coca festival — first prize for coca foodstuffs. It’s really good at keeping the temperature constant.”For the next hour, she will be baking a cake made with green coca flour. Once finished, it will offer that distinctive coca buzz: the clarifying exhilaration of coffee crossed with the mellow endurance of green tea. Proponents of the plant point out that unless processed, it has no addictive properties or psychotic effects and is rich in minerals and vitamins. Its medicinal uses include alleviating various stomach problems and serving as a topical anaesthetic.Quisbert’s forearms glisten as she stirs meringue into the dry ingredients — “It has to be silky, no lumps” — before pouring the gooey batter into a baking pan and sliding it into the oven. While we wait, she tells me about struggling to keep up her business. “Everyone talks; no one helps us,” she says quietly.A hodgepodge of vice-ministries and government departments share responsibility for coca strategy, but leadership is lacking. Bureaucrats tend to laud the gumption of small-scale producers like Quisbert, then argue that no one will take Bolivia seriously if its products don’t reach a certain scale and standard. Critics respond that the government’s vision is so ambitious, it’s ignoring the expertise of those already industrializing the leaf. “The lefties in government think industrialization is a big factory with assembly lines and smokestacks,” says Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui, a prominent sociologist and coca expert. “They don’t realize it can be a little grinder in your home.”Quisbert’s smile returns as she lays out the green chocolates, quinoa, and energy bars she sells at markets. “It’s all about getting people used to eating coca sweets bit by bit,” she says. Most Bolivians with the money to buy such products aren’t used to consuming coca, except as a tea.For now, none of Quisbert’s wares can be exported, either. International law treats the coca leaf itself as a narcotic, though exceptions have been made for Coca Cola and pharmaceuticals. Thanks to a loophole, tiny amounts of coca tea and flour can now be purchased in North America at a steep price through a distributor called Reyes Avila, but only online, so every purchase can be tracked. “We’ve had many offers to sell the tea in stores, but we’re not allowed,” a woman working at Reyes Avila’s distribution plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, told me. The best hope for Bolivian producers is the European Union, whose parliament passed a resolution last April that moved it closer to opening its market to coca products. A Bolivian diplomat told me he has received ample encouragement on the issue there. Quisbert pulls the cake from the oven, its crust golden and crisp. But we’re late for a meeting of local producers, and her mother, who has just arrived, won’t let me have a slice. Seeing the desperate look on my face, she softens her voice. “It needs to cool,” she says. I’ll just have to wait.

Well, the one that found the loophole was Miss Reyes Avila , president of our company and you can be sure that we do know where our products go and we responsibly control every single transaction and purchase by Amazon Account, Google Checkout Account, Paypal, household, address, customer name, zip code, area, city , State and Country. Several times, by order of Miss Reyes Avila, we refunded orders that have exceeded a reasonable " For Personal Consume Only" mark. Our teas and powdered coca tea are sold as a gourmet item, not to be abused instead we offer all our customers a healthy , natural and organic product.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Coca Flour Status

Due to overwhelming demand, we may need to start rationing the coca flour orders. Additionally, we have officially run out of McMate "Private Reserve Caranavi" Flour for the remainder of the year and Delisse from Peru is no longer imported. We have limited quantities of McMate Powdered Coca Tea.

Currently we have a waiting list and we will start sending the delayed customer orders first, starting with the expedited shipments and followed by the standard shipments.

Subsequent to the delayed orders, we will proceed with shipping for new orders. We are hoping that by next year all the products will be available again. All coca tea Air-Tight bags and boxes are fully available.

We are so very sorry and thank you very much for your growing patronage and gracious patience!

McMate Powdered Coca Tea Silver cans 6.5 oz and 5 oz Air-Tight Bag are available at all sites. All delayed orders, Express, Priority and Expedited, with this item are being shipped today.

Miss Lyelee

UPDATE 12/05/08

McMate Powdered Coca Tea 10 oz and Caranavi 12 oz Air-Tight Bag are available at all sites. No more Caranavi Pounders until February of 2009. All delayed orders, Express, Priority and Expedited, with this item are being shipped today and Saturday 6th. All ponders will be available on Tuesday and all delayed orders with pound Air-Tight bags will be completed on Tuesday. We have a limited Supply for the year or " MacMate Gold Matcha Style Andean Green Tea" also known as McMate Coca Flour Gold and by order or Miss Reyes Avila, we are going to limit to a maximum of two pounders per customer, NO EXCEPTIONS !! Let's give everyone a chance to enjoy this wonderful product, we just cannot ship large amounts to any customers.

All Packages shipped from North Carolina and/or South Carolina. We'll ship overnight orders and Second Day on Saturday 22nd but we do not guarantee arrival for Monday, depends where in the US you are located and if USPS has overnight service to your town for orders shipped from the Carolinas.Reyes Avila, LLC

Thursday, November 13, 2008

COCA FLOUR

DELAY

Mr. Evo Morales decided to suspend any DEA operations indefinitely in Bolivia last week what delayed the import - export paperwork for coca flour in the U.S. from Bolivia ( basically affected all imports from Bolivia into the United States ) for what we couldn't process orders that included coca flour or powdered coca tea for the last 10 days. All orders received since November 1st. were delayed because of this incident. We apologize for this delay but in a situation as extreme as this one, there is practically nothing we can do.Nevertheless, by order of Miss Reyes Avila last week, all Bolivian coca flour production was transported from our factories in Cochabamba - Bolivia to our offices in Peru from where we mailed and exported them later last week. The good news are that we received today a pair of lots of coca flour to cover all delayed orders, and we hope to get more next week for this weekend order.We have now started processing those delayed orders. Some already shipped this afternoon and the rest should ship at the end of the week. We should be done catching up on this delay in processing by Saturday.The demand for Bolivian coca flour is very high, no other natural drink has all the benefits of coca, the quality of our final products is excellent, and we can offer to all our customers just the best coca products in the market in two different house varieties: "Caranavi Private Reserve" our green - brownish flour and " McMate gold" the bright green powdered coca tea.Enjoy our products and thank you for your patience and patronage.

Monday, November 03, 2008

New Coca Tea

McMate Premium Organic 100 Ct

Gold Air Tight Bag &

Private Reserve Caranavi

McMate deserves an obvious five stars rating, not only because it is our house brand but because this is a new, natural, sophisticated and eco-friendly coca tea. Most boxed coca teas, Bolivian or Peruvian, are more or less the same as the techniques used for production are very similar with the same contents and weight per tea bag.I have been drinking coca tea for 32 years and have tried them all and liked most. But with McMate Air Tight Bag, we tried to create an exquisite gourmet tea which is produced differently versus the traditional techniques used for 100 years in Bolivia (Windsor celebrates its 100 anniversary this year). Specifically, we have obtained the finest selection of organic coca leaves ( three different varieties of coca leaf ) which are free of pesticides and chemicals and arranged for them to be tested in US laboratories. Thus we have pioneered a top-notch process encompassing all steps in the processing of raw coca leaf to the final tea bag. The coca leaves go through a slow dehydration process similar to that of slow roasting coffee beans to get a humidity free product to prevent bacteria or fungus from developing and then we crush them into large flakes instead of the powdery-like content used for most brands. Our filter paper is bleach free and recognizable by its beige-like color instead of the traditional bright white. We opted for the golden Air Tight bag (Double Saran Coated Polyester) to guarantee the absolute freshness of the product and discarded all paper wraps that can interfere with the coca tea flavor or over dry the delicate tea bags. Our Air Tight bags do not “breathe”. The technology used is similar to that used to pack electronic components. They have a zip lock system and can be recycled or reused.The best thing about McMate is it freshness. The tea is only produced one time per week in Bolivia and only for the American market and as soon as it leaves the factory it is packed and sent by air cargo with a three to seven day transit time. After that it is mailed from Charlotte, NC to all of our customers worldwide.Also try our new limited - time McMate "Private Reserve Caranavi" Silver pouches separated in ten convenient 10ct Bio-Packs (Israeli biotechnology) Natural, Non Toxic and Insect Repellent material that prolongs storage time increasing both manufacturer and customer satisfaction, seal assures consumers that the food inside is safe from any kind contamination or infestation and it is easy to carry around. The latest food technology provides to our customers with the top Coca Products in the World.

Friday, October 10, 2008

What's Up With Bolivia?by Abie Flaxhammer

Have you heard much about Bolivia? It's been in the news, but the news page has been crowded lately. Bolivia expelled the US ambassador on Sept. 11, 2008, so we heard a little bit about that. Bolivian President Evo Morales explained this action: "The ambassador of the United States is conspiring against democracy and wants Bolivia to break apart." Let's dig a little deeper.Evo Morales was elected president of Bolivia in 2005. He is an Aymara Indian, the first indigenous person ever to be president in Bolivia. He came out of the organized labor movement, and his political party, which is called the Movement Towards Socialism, has always seemed a little, well, socialist. Oh, did I mention the union he belongs to is a confederation of coca growers? (The coca leaf has been an important plant in Andean indigenous traditions for thousands of years. It is also used in the production of cocaine and for this reason is a controlled substance in many countries.) This is why the US media views the Bolivian president as an indigenous coca-growing socialist. In South America, he is more often viewed as a democratically elected president, with wide support from Bolivians and from South American nations.When we hear about Evo or Bolivia here, it is always about resource redistribution (or occasionally about coca eradication). Most recently, the news has focused on conflict between the central government, led by Morales, and the "autonomist" regions, resource-rich eastern states that oppose land reforms and other nationalization projects. This disagreement got hot on Sept. 11, just before the US ambassador was kicked out, when the Pando province militia attacked a rally of about 1000 pro-Morales peasants. At least 30 of the peasants were killed in the attack. National troops then arrested the Pando governor for his suspected involvement, and the attorney general accused him of genocide. The US ambassador was, in part, expelled for meeting with opposition governors on the eve of the massacre. But Jim Shultz, Executive Director of the Democracy Center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, says our ambassador was so incompetent that he might not have known his actions would seem seditious. Jim told Democracy Now!, "He is beyond clueless in terms of how this appears in Bolivia and the rest of Latin America."But, this is just the latest manifestation of a larger struggle, which thoughtful observers have compared to the civil rights movement or anti-apartheid. Tanya Kerssen from the Center for the Study of the Americas says, "There are deep class and race divisions in this country that are the legacy of colonialism and neocolonialism. I think 'Bolivia on the Brink' has become a bit of a cliché. From the point of view of the social movements, Bolivia is on the brink of historic change that will finally bring equity and justice to the indigenous majority. They are ready to fight and die to bring this change about. And, to be clear, from what I hear from people, the social movements see themselves as supporting the democratic process in the face of corruption. This is the part, I think, that's missing from discussions about what's happening in Bolivia. The social movements see themselves as defending their democratically elected [Morales] government that has just received a 67 percent vote of approval, including support in the eastern regions."Kathryn Ledebeur, Director of the Andean Information Network spoke in Washington, D.C. recently on "The Bolivia Crisis for Beginners." She says that a common misconception is that Morales is a puppet of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Actually, there are many groups with many interests who pressure the government to make change. Tanya Kerssen agrees, "This is not like the US, where we vote our choice for president and then sit back and trust that she or he will represent us. The social movements know that Morales will represent them as long as they have his back, so to speak. They protest to make their voices heard to the president, as well as to his opposition."Resource wars are also at the heart of this struggle. Who will benefit from the oil, gas, and land of Bolivia? There are some great victories in Bolivia's resource wars of the recent past, like the "Water War" at the beginning of this decade, when massive strikes stopped Bechtel and other corporations from privatizing the water supply. And there is one cash crop that brings Bolivia into the news here enough to be worth special mention, that traditional plant/cocaine ingredient/flavoring agent, coca. Since coca is a key ingredient in manufacturing cocaine, it is considered illegal by the United Nations, but it actually is legal in the US. This might seem a little confusing, especially since George Bush says we should suspend trade benefits for Bolivia because they won't work towards coca eradication. Evo prefers a policy that is tough on drug traffickers but does not force farmers to abandon the crop on which their livelihoods depend.I find the way social movements in Bolivia make their voices heard inspiring, and if you do too, you might be wondering how you can get in on it. The most fun would probably be to catch a fast train down and be there to see it unfold. But what's most fun for me is not necessarily what's best for the movement. It's actually the unglamorous letter-writing and office visits that we in the belly of the beast can provide (you can also order some Bolivian coca tea online).As we enter the homestretch of our electoral theater, take this as a lesson of what can be won in the streets and with the ballot box, and how the powerful will fight to keep what they've got if the people vote to take it away.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Don't miss out on the 2008 elections. Fill out the voter registration form at http://www.rockthevote.org/We live in a democracy and we are blessed with rights that Democracy give us and that means that we all get a say in who runs our country, and by way of this privilege we also get a say about how our country is run. It is very easy to be blase about our right to vote and take a "whatever, who cares" kind of attitude about it but you shouldn't brush this great honor off so quickly. Sure registering can be a bit of a chore, and yes, you have to head down to a polling station on voting day to pull your lever which takes some time out of your day and may cost you a few bucks in gas or a trip in a headious bus, train, etc.... But whether you know it or not these are very small prices to pay for the right to vote. In some countries people are literally dying to be able to cast a ballot and make a difference.Vote! ... It is your Right !Carol Blenda Reyes Avila.Reyes Avila, LLC

Friday, September 26, 2008

Save 17% on each participating item when you spend $44.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Mysterious Bolivia Stores. Enter code happyfall at Google Checkout. One time use per customer, only valid at Google Checkout.Happy Fall Everybody!!!Reyes Avila, LLC

Friday, September 12, 2008

Coca Chewing

(From the book: Cocaine the Legend by Jorge Hurtado)

Chewing coca leaves Coca was and continues to be chewed by the Aymaras and Quechuas of Bolivia, Peru and other Andean countries.The leaves are not chewed but sucked. The term chewing is not an appropriated one, but as its commonly used, we will use this term throughout this article. This is a technique developed over centuries. It consists in taking a mouthful of coca leaves without swallowing them. These are previously stripped of the veins to avoid traumatic action by these hard parts of the leaf on the mouth lining. Chewing is done softly, trying not to crush them totally, only enough to break the cell membranes and then let them dissolve slowly in the saliva.The bolus thus formed (about 8-10 grams), is left to repose in the gums and the mouth lining, just below the outlet of the excreting duct of the parotid salivary gland. When the half crushed leaves are sufficiently dampened (10-15 minutes), the chewer adds the llijta or any other alkaline agent (such as sodium bicarbonate). The llijta is a preparation made of several types of vegetal ashes, such as quinoa and plantain. Its purpose is to provide an alkaline medium to maximize the action of the alkaloids of the leaf.A few minutes later, there is an intense anesthetic effect on the mucosa next to the bolus and also in the cheeks, throat and tongue. It is certain that the ingestion of the juice exerts an anesthetic effect on the lower intestinal tract and at the systemic level. This would explain the custom in Andean countries to chew coca leaves or take coca infusion to alleviate pain over a wide range: headaches, toothaches, intestinal cramps, etc. Its use is frequent as a dressing topically applied on the painful areas, for instance in the area of a broken bone or arthritis.The absorption of alkaloids is rapid and the elimination of fatigue, a feeling of euphoria or antidepressant action is felt within 15 to 20 minutes, with the appearance of an increase of psychomotor action, a state of tension typical of alertness, there is an increase in activity or the desire to do something. Sensorial functions become more intense. The higher intellectual activities are faster, there is a slight feeling of consciousness expansion (which could explain its use during religious rituals). In the emotional area, the effect is stimulating, the individual feels euphoric, happy, optimistic, and willing to undertake action. Corporal needs, such as hunger, sleepiness, and restful are postponed by the energetic impulse of the time. The capacity and yield during work improve noticeably , although the study conducted by IBBA only reports that it increases work endurance.The effect of chewing is strong at the start but it disappears progressively and it is necessary to increase the intake slowly to maintain the effect. According to Carter and Mamani, intensive users of coca, such as miners and farmers, chew the leaf two or three times a day, sometimes even four, when work is hard. It amounts to thirteen ounces a week (390 grams).When the habitual chewer does not undertake any activity, generally he/she does not consume coca or very little of it. Consumption can be easily abandoned indefinitely without any undesirable effects. Even, when the user is chewing coca and is offered a nutritious and appetizing meal, he will stop chewing to eat. In general, the desire to chew coca can be abandoned indefinitely, without suffering physical or psychological effects, or the appearance of compulsive behavior to alleviate the desire." I have seen many habitual coca consumers, who for reason beyond their control, such as an incapacitating accident, have been forced to remain several months in a hospital without possibilities to continue their habit, which had to be interrupted suddenly, show no signs of withdrawal symptoms. " (J.Hurtado)"...until now, we have not been able to detect withdrawal symptoms when the dispensation of cocaine has been interrupted. Animals feel pleasure when injected with cocaine and show appetite for the drug in every possible form, but if the substance is suspended no ill effects are observed in animal physiology. Therefore, cocaine depends on other substances to produce the so called habit.In animals, these are evident only when injected parentally. It is then the pharmacology of cocaine that has caused and continues to cause the adverse reaction against coca leaves. This is a risky and, to a large extent, artificial association between the chemically pure alkaloid, and injected directly in the veins at large doses, and the coca leaves, whose effects may be the same but of different intensity and undoubtedly at a much smaller risk than some would like to attribute to coca." (Fernando Cabiesis)

Friday, August 15, 2008

Reyes Avila, LLCNew Shipping Policy

All orders for in-stock merchandise ship within 2-3 business days following receipt of an order. Amazon.com may hold orders pending credit card approval, so there can be a delay from when you place your order to when receive it. Reyes Avila, LLC only ships on Tuesdays and Fridays with a few exceptions. We do not ship to US protectorates and APO/FPO

UNITED STATES ORDERS

STANDARD ORDERS will ship by USPS First Class Mail, and will arrive in 5-7 business days. (Weekends and Holidays do not count as business days) We do not ship standard to P.O. BoxesEXPEDITED orders arrive in 3-5 days after the first Tuesday or Friday that the customer(s) places an order. Only Second Day and Next Day orders are shipped the same day or within 24 hours.Orders to Alaska, Hawaii, and West Coast addresses may take longer; we ship all our products from South Carolina and/or North Carolina. We have experienced delays in orders to Oregon, California and Washington; Our Company entirely depends on USPS speed and efficiency for packages delivery.Because we use Electronic Labels for most of our parcels, generally, tracking activity “only” updates after the package is delivered.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS

CanadaStarting August 15th, 2008; Standard Orders to Canada at Bolivia Stores and Amazon.com are shipped by International Priority Mail plus tracking number, Expedited are shipped by Express mail or EMS service.Even when these services are a faster way to ship orders to this country, Canada's Customs is still very difficult and they like to take their time inspecting parcels. Priority shipping from Charlotte - NC to anywhere in Canada generally takes 7 – 10 business days. And Express 3-6 business Days. No overnight or second day available to anywhere outside the USA.AustraliaStandard Orders to Australia are shipped by International Priority Mail plus tracking number, Expedited are shipped by Express mail or EMS service and require a signature confirmation. Due quarantine regulations we advice to order only Airtight Bag Products, this accelerates considerably custom's inspection. Standard Orders anywhere in Australia generally takes 10 – 15 business days. And Express 6-10 Business Days.Europe and rest of the worldOrders to Europe, Asia, Central and South America are shipped by International Priority Mail plus tracking number, Expedited are shipped by Express mail or EMS service. European postal services are generally very efficient and delivery speed depends on each country’s customs policy.

TrackingAll our packages include a delivery confirmation or tracking number that generally is provided at your order status at Amazon.com (Bolivia Stores & Amazon orders) or Google Checkout (Mysterious Bolivia Orders). Email us at BoliviaStores@gmail.com if you need further information regarding tracking. Signature confirmation is optional and free of charge, please contact us if you need this service, we have experienced in the past stolen parcels from the customer’s boxes and residences.FeedbackPlease leave a feedback, this is a easy way for us to confirm that your order has arrived safely and you are satisfied with our products, if your order does not arrive within 7 to 10 business days, please contact us and we will track your order, if we do not have a positive answer of the whereabouts of your package in 24 hours, we will immediately re-ship free of charge by priority mail or overnight mail.DelaysMost of our Products are shipped weekly from Bolivia and Peru to our warehouses in the Carolinas and occasionally we may have small delays due the political and social activity of these conflictive countries, if that is the case, you can find updated information at our blog http://www.mysteriousbolivia.blogspot.com/ . In the case of delays, your products will be shipped the same day that they arrive to our warehouses.Returns.Our Company offers a 100% Returns only if the products are un-open, due the nature of our products we cannot accept returns of open products because they have to be automatically discarded. We will not refund the shipping and handling charges. We do not charge restocking fee. You can find more information about our products, interesting articles and recipes at http://www.mysteriousbolivia.blogspot.com/ where updated information is posted regularly.Thanks and enjoy your products!